Seeing, but not understanding!

The French village in which my wife and I live has a busy thoroughfare running through it - the main road between Bergerac and Bordeaux. Our home is situated on that road. This afternoon, as I was working in the garden, I realised that traffic had stopped, and that a long queue was forming on the other side of the road - heading towards Bordeaux. 

Being an inquisitive (or, as my wife would say, "nosey!"!) person, I walked to the front gate to find out what was happening. The sight of a motorcycle rider coming along the road, waving drivers to put their vehicles on to the pavement, was a sure sign that we were awaiting a "Convoi Exceptionnelle" - Abnormal Load.

About ten minutes later, it appeared around the bend in the road - and it was truly "Exceptionnelle"! We are used to seeing large yachts and sea-going cabin cruisers being transported - but this dwarfed them all! It was a large catamaran, and was at least 50% wider than the boats that normally pass by!

Then, as it drew closer, and the driver of the very long transporter straightened up his load, I saw the catamaran begin to tip towards the pavement. I immediately tried to warn the drive by gesticulating with my arms, and wondered why the driver of the escort vehicle that was following him wasn't blasting the horn! All that I could see was a total disaster, with a badly damaged catamaran (on the starboard hull, if nowhere else), and some badly damaged fencing and hedges.

It was only as the transporter passed by, that I saw that the whole vessel was securely attached to a hydraulically-operated platform, and that the 'tip' was perfectly safe, and deliberately put into action by the driver in order to make the passage of the vessel past some road signs, easier. I had seen what was happening - but I didn't understand that someone was actually in control!

That is so like life! Sometimes, things appear to be tipping out of control. All that I can see is a disaster about to happen. There is going to be damage. There might even be a total catastrophe! 

What I don't see is that Father God is in control! That driver knew the route; he had been made aware of the difficult sections; he knew exactly what to do when he reached them. Father God sees the end from the beginning. From His vantage point in eternity, He knows (and sees) what is happening before it ever happens in the time-space continuum in which you and I live out our mortal lives. 

That catamaran was/is an inanimate object, with no life. But if it had the capability of thought, I suspect that it would have been worried when that hydraulic ram made it tip. Yet there was no need for it to be so. So for you and for me, if we are disciples of the Lord Jesus. When difficulties arise; when we are unsure as to what is "around the corner"; when life seems to be tipping us over - we may trust in the One Who knows the way, and knows how to negotiate every inch of it.

Someone has made the point that, being a disciple of Jesus doesn't protect us from every difficulty - but it does mean that we have Him with us, whatever that difficulty may be! Because He has gone before, He knows the way, and because He lives, He can lead us along it.

It's good to be home!

This afternoon, I drove almost 100 kms (c.63 miles) to the airport at Bordeaux. It wasn't a simple drive for the pleasure of driving (that particular journey seldom is!), but because I was collecting my dear wife who was returning after two weeks in Scotland, visiting our family.

I was about twenty minutes away from the airport, and was thinking about how soon I would see my wife again. "I can barely wait", I thought to myself. "I am looking forward so much to her return".

That was when the further thought hit me! There is another, world-shattering event, when there will be another return. I refer, of course, to the return of the Lord Jesus, the Christ - not as a helpless infant, but as the King of kings and Lord of lords. 

I then had to look, honestly, at myself and wonder - am I as excited at the prospect of the Lord's return, after some 2,000 years, as I am about the prospect of my wife's return after a mere 2 weeks?

Of course, although I had spoken with her, by telephone, this morning as she waited at Glasgow airport, I had no absolute guarantee that I would see her at Bordeaux! So many things could have upset our plans. I could have been fatally injured in a road traffic accident; I might have had a heart attack; my wife might have suffered the same; the plane might have crashed. Thankfully, none of these did take place, and we are safely back in our own home. But nothing will be able to stop the return of the Lord Jesus when He comes back with His bride - the previously raptured church.

One final thought in this (unusually!) short post. As we arrived at the sign for our little village, my wife said "Ah! home at last!" When Jesus takes His bride - seven years before He returns - those who constitute that body will be able to say, as have the true saints of God down through the centuries, "Home at last!" We will share in the marriage supper of the Lamb and, when we return with Him, we will share in His millennial reign.

What a prospect for those who are the called, according to His purpose; those of whom it has been said that they "love His appearing" (see II Tim.4:8). Are you in that happy band? Are you looking forward, with great excitement and anticipation, to His return? I trust so but, if not; if you aren't assured that you will rise in the Rapture; please do something about it now! Tomorrow may be too late!

FOR SALE!

Due to having had to move closer to Bergerac, we are able to offer our residential, static, caravan (38’x13’; 12mx4m) to a discerning buyer.  The ‘van is already sited in a quiet, family-owned, and run, site in the Gironde Départment (33) in SW France.  The nearest large town is Coutras; while Bordeaux, with its airport, is only some 40 kms (25 miles) away.  Bergerac, with its own small airport, is a little over 80 kms (50 miles) away.

If you are looking for a Club, a large swimming complex, two Bars, and a Disco, then Camping Le Chêne du Lac is definitely not for you.  However, if you seek a peaceful site, with friendly, helpful, English-speaking, owners who live on the site themselves, and who are constantly upgrading it (for example, since the top photograph was taken, the roadway has been fully surfaced), then you will love this beautiful corner of France.    Although there is no pool, we do have a private lake, with a sand beach.  There is also free access to pedalos, rubber tubes, kayaks, etc.  How many pools can boast such an array of water activities? Of course, one may swim in the lake as well!

The ‘van, which was privately built to our specifications, is still less than three years old, and has not been host to either smokers or pets.  There are two bedrooms with double beds; one bedroom with bunk beds; and the lounge area has seating that may be made into a full double bed.  This provides sleeping for up to six adults and two children.

The lounge area has the above-mentioned seating, plus a coffee-table, and a TV table — complete with a TV!  We are leaving a clock on the wall, and a Monet print on the opposite wall!  There is an outside aerial that allows the reception of French TV programmes on a number of channels.  By the way, the master bedroom also has TV reception through a wall-mounted aerial socket, with a power socket beside it.     Luxury!

The kitchen area is well fitted with a stainless steel sink; a gas hob, and oven; an electric cooker hood; and oodles of cupboard space.  We are even leaving a microwave!      Safety is of paramount importance, so there is both a smoke alarm, and a fire extinguisher.  A dining-table and four chairs  are also provided.

There is a full bathroom, with wash-hand basin, toilet, and a proper bath with over-bath shower and a glass screen.   Other fitments are in place as shown in the photographs.  There is also an additional, separate toilet — a boon when up to eight people are in residence (or when someone is relaxing in a hot bath!) — complete with wash-hand basin. 

The ‘van boasts full double-glazing, and full, gas-fired, central heating.  The lounge area also has an electric fire, complete with remote control (luxury!!). There are curtains, or venetian blinds, at every  window.  This includes the patio doors that lead from the lounge area to the  verandah which, at this point, also has a roof. 

All of this allows for all-year-round living and, indeed, we have lived in the ‘van as late as November, and as early as January!  The site, of course, is open all year round.  Free Wi-fi is available, and we could usually connect from the ‘van!

The verandah stretches all the way along that end of the ’van, and beyond the front door.  Inset  steps  lead  to ground  level.    At the end of the verandah, but on the ground, is a wooden shed for storage purposes.  The verandah has a full balustrade which provides a level of privacy.   The pitch is clearly marked by shrubs at one end, a low fence at the back, trees at the other end and, of course, the verandah at the front.  There is also room to park a car beside the shed.  The ‘van has a Gas Safety Certificate that is valid until April, 2017, and it is insured until the end of August 2016.  There will be a full bottle of gas left, together with whatever is in the second gas bottle (currently almost full!).  The site rental is currently a mere €160 (app. £125) per calendar month.   Having the ‘van already sited provides a saving of some €1200!  This is not simply a “holiday chalet”, but a fully-fitted residential ‘van.

The price for all of this has now been REDUCED to only £26,500 sterling (or €34,980) - oVno. 

Viewing may be arranged, or questions asked, by contacting me by e-mail at

author@minister.com        

Additional photographs (and enlargements of those provided!) are also available, on request.

This is a wonderful opportunity to own your personal spot in the sun, in one of the most beautiful areas of a beautiful country.   Lots to see, and do, in the area, e.g. St. Emilion, Bordeaux, Bergerac, the Atlantic coast, weekly markets, wine-tasting, walking, horse-riding, cycling, fishing, golfing, and other attractions. There is also the potential of hiring the ‘van  -  especially during the summer months, and over the Easter period.    If one were to do so, even for those periods alone, the anticipated income should more than cover the site rental for the whole year.

Don’t delay - contact me today!